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Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, must exonerate her father of murder. Armed with more than enough knowledge to tie two distant deaths together and examine new suspects, she begins a search that will lead her all the way to the King of England himself

Opinion

From Library Staff

Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is propelled into a mystery when a man is found murdered on the grounds of her family's decaying English mansion and Flavia's father becomes the main suspect. This is the first in a series I think you’ll enjoy-- it’s f... Read More &raquo

Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is propelled into a mystery when a man is found murdered on the grounds of her family's decaying English mansion and Flavia's father becomes the main suspect.

Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, must exonerate her father of murder. Armed with more than enough knowledge to tie two distant deaths together and examine new suspects, she begins a search that will lead her all the way to the King of England himself.

It is the summer of 1950 - and a series of inexplicable events has struck Buckshaw, the decaying English mansion that 11-year old Flavia's family calls home. A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber p... Read More &raquo

It is the summer of 1950, and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events. For Flavia, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw.

From the critics

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I finally read this book after many recommendations and I am glad I read it. That being said, it's not my favourite. Although most people really like Flavia, I just found I couldn't. I guess I just feel that she is a brat. Also, I was distracted by how many similes and metaphors there are. I couldn't even follow most of them. However, all in all I did like it and I do recommend it for teenagers, young adults, and adults! I probably will eventually read the whole series.

I have to say, when I began Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, I found myself falling into some fairly large plot holes. I couldn't shrug off the feeling of disconnect between our narrator (Miss de Luce) and some of the characters closest to her. It felt as if the author himself was at a loss about their relationship, as if he was feeling his way. This was, of course, almost a deal breaker for me, but I persevered and oh how glad I am I did.

I simply adore this book. I love the language, the setting, the plot -- everything. But, of course, I especially love Flavia de Luce. Who wouldn't. Precocious is an understatement in any attempt to describe our protagonist and a polite one at that (for those who have finished the book, there are several words beginning with the letter P that could be brought to bear by a certain character).

Anyway, leaving the bumpy beginning aside, this story swept me up, had me enthralled, laughing, puzzled, and even saddened. Thinking about it now, Bradley seems to address the short comings found at the beginning by the end of the book.

I am sure I will be grabbing the next in the series and the one after that.

I'll admit I had a hard time getting into this story - I picked it up and put it down several times. I finally forced myself to read it and actually grew to appreciate Flavia and her quirkiness. Will try the next one in the series.

A patron review from the Adult Summer Game: "Great little mystery novel with the wonderful character of young Flavia. I was happy to discover there are more Flavia tales and look forward to reading them."

NYPL Staff Pick
Through the dry and age-authentic narration of an 11 year old aspiring detective and precocious poison-ophile, we follow her inquiry into what was a behind the murder (possibly by her father) of an apparent stranger in a 1950's British country town. Involves stamp collecting, prestidigitation, a look in to her father's teenage years, and some interesting chemical asides.
- Jill Rothstein

I absolutely love Flavia de Luce. She is everything an investigator should be. Curious, intelligent, persistent, and smart. Also driven by loyalty to her father & family. Of course she is only 11 years old, but her fascination with chemistry stands her in good stead in her quest.

This was an amazing book! I loved Flavia's character and the storyline so much! However Flavia and her sisters are so extremely horrible to each other. They make sister's who pull each others hair seem affectionate and kind. The ending was great!

Flavia de Luce is an 11 yr. old chemistry whiz. She has two older sisters with whom she is at odds. Her father, a philatelist, is distant and unavailable and she is largely parented by the housekeeper and the gardener. She helps solve the murder of one of her father's school friends who is found dead in the garden.